Method and composition for road construction and surfacing

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions for improving the strength and longevity of secondary roadways through environmentally sound practices are disclosed herein. A composition for road sealing includes acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer mixed with native soil.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/787,273, filedMar. 6, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.13/725,379, filed Dec. 21, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 13/360,775, filed Jan. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,117, whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/102,213, now U.S. Pat. No.8,104,991, filed May 6, 2011, which claims priority to a provisionalpatent application, Ser. No. 61/332,479, filed May 7, 2010, and Ser. No.61/379,570, filed Sep. 2, 2010, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference. This invention generally relates to methodsand compositions for improving the strength and longevity of secondaryroadways through environmentally sound practices.

I. BACKGROUND

The engineering and construction of secondary roads (hereafter, “gravelroads,” “earth roads,” or “unpaved roads”) has been perpetually plaguedby two interrelated problems: the deterioration of the road due towater, and the loss of surface cohesion and road compaction due totraffic. The deleterious effects of water on roadways, in particular,are well documented in the prior art. In cold weather, moisture thatpenetrates a road's base layers freezes and rips cracks into the roadsubstrate that seriously undermine the load bearing capacity andlongevity of the roadway. Likewise, in milder weather, when water seepsinto the road's base layers it results in softening and erosion thatcauses potholes that are an expensive and recurring problem. And if thepotholes are not immediately repaired, they fill with water and furtherexacerbate the deterioration of the roadway.

The impact of water on secondary roads—such as rural roads, accessroads, field and forestry roads, or mountain roads—is especiallypronounced because the quality of the surfacing materials is lower thanin an asphalt paved road, for example, and thus provides reduced surfaceprotection from the elements. Additionally, because of capillary action,water also seeps into the road base from the sides and bottom of theroad's base or sub-base. Compared to sealed or “paved” roads, whichrequire large machinery to pour concrete or to lay and smooth abitumen-based surface, secondary unpaved roads are relatively easy andinexpensive to build. But unpaved roads require much more frequentmaintenance—particularly after wet periods or when faced with increasedtraffic—and are generally prone to other problems not associated withpaved roads.

For example, many secondary roads—of either an earth or gravelvariety—utilize native soils, often in conjunction with gravel quarriedfrom local resources, to create the road's sub-base and base layers.Unfortunately, native soils and gravel are not always of suitablequality, resulting in a road base with diminished physical andmechanical properties. When secondary roads are constructed of poor roadbase materials, routine maintenance is not strictly employed, and theroad is exposed to heavy moisture and/or traffic, the erosion of theroad—due to damage to the road surface, sub-base, and base materials—ishastened.

Defects in road surfaces are typically classified into two categories:surface deterioration and surface deformation. While surfacedeterioration is related mostly to the quality of the surfacingmaterials and the way they respond to weather or traffic stresses,surface deformations often have combined causes that include bothstresses to the road surface itself and other factors such as sub-baseand base capacity and stability. Surface deterioration is exemplified by“dust,” the result of loss of fine binder material from road surfaces.Dust is a substantial problem for secondary roads, as the loss of thesefine materials leads to other types of road distress such as loss ofcohesion and compaction of the road fill material, and reduced capacityto maintain the requisite moisture in the road fill.

Surface deformations include ruts, corrugations, depressions, andpotholes. Ruts are longitudinal depressions in the wheel paths caused byhigh moisture content, inadequate strength in the subsurface soil orbase, inadequate surface course thickness, or heavy traffic loads.Corrugating or “washboarding” is a series of ridges and depressionsacross the road surface caused by lack of surface cohesion. Depressionsare localized low areas one or more inches below the surrounding roadsurfaces that are caused by settlement, excessive moisture content,and/or improper drainage. Potholes are small depressions or voids in theroad surface one or more inches deep which are caused by excessivemoisture content, poor drainage, weak sub-base or base, poorly gradedaggregate, or a combination of these factors.

As such, the problems typically associated with secondary roads—bothsurface deterioration and deformation—are caused by: 1) the harmfuleffects of water and high moisture content, including settlement anderosion, on the road surface and base, 2) the lack of surface cohesionand resulting loss of road compaction caused by dust, and 3) the heavytraffic loads exerted on roads with weak or inadequate soil, sub-base,or base. Industry has provided for the addition of various chemicaladditives to impart water repellency on road materials, with varyingdegrees of success and environmental impact. However, water repellantchemicals are not binders, and load bearing capacity, stability, andfrost resistance are not improved by their application to the soil orroad base. In many cases, dust can also be reduced on gravel roads byapplying chemical additives (commonly known in the art as “dustsuppressors” or “dust retardants”) which draw moisture from the air toimprove fine aggregate cohesion. And “soil stabilizers,” which arechemicals designed to act as binders and coalesce, forming bonds betweenthe soil or aggregate particles, have shown promise in greatly improvingthe load bearing and traffic capacity of the road. But existing soilstabilizers and dust retardants are difficult to apply and use in coldclimates, tend to have long cure times, short life-cycles, and do notprovide the requisite protection against water damage; particularlyexcessive moisture content resulting from capillary action.

Repairing damaged roadways by conventional methods can be extremelyexpensive, time consuming, and environmentally disruptive because theentire compacted gravel layer of the road must be replaced. Excavatingthe roadbed of a 1-km portion of road measuring 4 m in width producesabout 2000 cubic meters (m³) of earthy waste; in a conventional road bedrepair project, this would require roughly 220 truckloads of waste to beremoved from the worksite, with 220 truckloads of new gravel beingshipped back the worksite to complete the project. In isolatedlocations, or locations with difficult terrain, the expense of removingand later replacing the gravel is exorbitant—as is the impact on localresidents (who must cope with noise and air pollution), normal users ofthe roadway (who experience detours or extended delays during repair),and the landfills that store the removed waste. Conventional binders area liquid asphalt, which turns into a black heat-absorbing road surface.At installation a conventional chip sealed surface must be sweptresulting in the loss of as much as 20% of the chips installed.

As a result, there is a need in the art for an improved method ofbuilding up roads to create strength and longevity, wherein roadbuilders will be able improve the longevity of the roadway, impartincreased load bearing and traffic capacity, and reduce the time, costs,and environmental impact associated with conventional road repairprojects.

Viscosity is the measure of the internal friction of a fluid. Thisfriction becomes apparent when a layer of fluid is made to moverelatively to another layer. The greater the friction the greater theamount of force required to cause this movement which is called shear.Shearing occurs whenever the fluid is physically moved by pouring,spreading, spraying, mixing, etc. High viscous liquids require moreforce to move than less viscous liquids. If there are two parallelplanes of fluid of equal area and they are separated by a distance andare moving in the same direction at different velocities, the forcerequired to maintain this difference in velocities is proportional tothe difference in speed through the liquid, or the velocity gradient.The velocity gradient, dv/dx, is a measure of the speed at which theintermediate layers move with respect to each other. It describes theshearing the liquid experiences and is called shear rate-R and its unitof measure is called reciprocal second (sec⁻¹). The term F/A indicatesthe force per unit area required to produce the shearing action and itis called shear stress-S and its unit is N/m². So viscosity can bedefined as: viscosity=shear stress S/shear rate R.

At a given temperature the viscosity of a Newtonian fluid remainsconstant regardless of which viscometer model, spindle, or speed is usedto measure it. The behavior of Newtonian liquids in experimentsconducted at constant temperature and pressure has the followingfeatures: 1) the only stress generated in simple shear flow is the shearstress S, the two normal stress differences are zero; 2) the shearviscosity does not vary with shear rate; 3) the viscosity is constantwith respect to the time of shearing and the stress in liquid falls tozero immediately the shearing is stopped; and 4) the viscositiesmeasured in different types of deformation are always in simpleproportion to one another. A liquid showing any deviation from the abovefeatures is non-Newtonian.

Generally speaking, a non-Newtonian fluid is defined as one for whichthe relationship S/R is not constant. The viscosity of non-Newtonianfluids changes as the shear rate is varied. Thus, the parameters ofviscometer model, spindle, and rotational speed all have an effect onthe measured viscosity. This measured viscosity is called apparentviscosity and is accurate when explicit experimental parameters areadhered to. There are several types of non-Newtonian flow behavior,characterized by the way a fluid's viscosity changes in response tovariations in shear rate. Pseudoplastic fluid displays a decreasingviscosity with an increasing shear rate, some examples include paintsand emulsions. This type of behavior is called shear-thinning.

Dry powdered polymers (DPP) have found wide acceptance within the roadindustry. DPP expands the range of pavement materials and situations forwhich stabilization is suitable. DPP is defined as a dry powderedstabilizing binder consisting of insoluble polymer thermally bound to afine carrier. DPP preserves the adequate dry strength ofwater-susceptible gravels by a process of internal waterproofing of finegrained particles. This involves creating a hydrophobic soil matrixbetween the particles which limits water ingress. DPP stabilization doesnot involve cementitious chemical reaction, so gravels incorporating DPPremain flexible and therefore are not susceptible to shrinkage, racking,or premature fatigue load failure.

II. SUMMARY

The present stabilization technology offers advantages in a wide varietyof road applications from unpaved roads that will remain un-surfaced toroads that will receive running surface treatments. Roadbedstabilization treatments include maximizing potential road strength byblending organic emulsions into native roadbed soils, old graveledroads, or recycled roadway surface materials to create a superiorstructure that maximizes potential road strength and extends the usefullife of the road bed. Midwest's construction system uses in-place soilsin conjunction with Midwest's “green” products to engineer improvedroadways by stabilizing the sub-base and providing a chip seal runningsurface—without relying on any asphaltic products. The present inventivecomponents were formulated to be as gentle on the environment as theyare effective on the roadway—at only a fraction of the cost. Oneadvantage is the process eliminates the need to import costly base oraggregate materials to build a sub-base for subsequent paving or shipsealing. The inventive components produce lighter surfaces that do notabsorb heat, are non-hazardous, non-flammable, non-corrosive, non toxic,use natural products harvested on sustainable basis, will not harmvegetation or wildlife, and will not leach out of the surface so theyare safe to use close to streams and bodies of water.

In one embodiment, a composition for road sealing includes an acrylicand vinyl acetate powdered polymer, water, and a resin-modifiedemulsion, wherein the resin-modified emulsion includes a mixture ofpitch and rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water, wherein thecomposition is substantially free of asphalt.

In another embodiment, the composition includes soil and a binder.

In another embodiment, the composition includes synthetic fibers.

In another embodiment, the acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer are betweenabout 5.0% and about 60.0% by weight, the water is between about 40.0%and about 94.0% by weight, and the resin emulsion between about 1.0% andabout 55.0% by weight, wherein within the resin emulsion the pitch isbetween about 1.0% and about 95% by weight, the rosin is between about1% to about 70%, the emulsifying agent is between about 0.1% to about5.0% by weight, and the water is between about 10% to about 98% byweight.

In another embodiment, the composition further includes a tack coat.

In another embodiment, the composition further includes limestone chips.

In another embodiment, the tack coat includes resin-modified emulsion ofpitch, rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water.

In another embodiment, the composition is substantially free ofpolycyclic organic matter.

In another embodiment, a method for road sealing includes mixingpowdered polymer and a resin-modified emulsion with associated nativesoil to form a road base, applying to the road base a tack coat ofaqueous emulsion, adding rock chips to the tack coat, and rolling thetack coat, wherein the composition is substantially free of asphalt.

In another embodiment, the method includes adding a binder to the roadbase and adding synthetic fibers to the road base.

In another embodiment, the composition further includes a rheologymodifier.

In another embodiment, the rheology modifier is chosen from the groupcomprising naturally occurring gums, polyacrylamide polymers,methylcellulose, silicas, polyurethanes, and carbonates.

In another embodiment, the composition further includes a drying aid.

In another embodiment, the drying aid is chosen from the groupcomprising surfactants, linseed oil, walnut oil, corn oil, tong oil,poppy oil, perilla oil, cotton oil, and alcohols.

In another embodiment, the composition further includes a curing agentor accelerator.

In another embodiment, the curing agent or accelerator is chosen fromthe group comprising various binders/hardeners including, but notlimited to, hydraulic curing agent and non-hydraulic curing agent.

In another embodiment, a method for road sealing includes applying atack coat directly on an associated asphalt road, wherein the tack coatis chosen from the group consisting of aqueous emulsion, resin-modifiedemulsion, mixture of aqueous emulsion and resin-modified emulsion,aqueous emulsion and viscosity enhancer, resin-modified emulsion withviscosity enhancer, and mixture of aqueous emulsion and resin-modifiedemulsion with viscosity enhancer.

In another embodiment, the method further includes mixing the curingagent or accelerator into the native soil or road bed material prior tothe application of the aqueous emulsion or resin-modified emulsion.

In another embodiment, the method further includes the addition of thecuring agent or accelerator to the aqueous emulsion or resin-modifiedemulsion prior to application into, or onto, the native soil or roadbed.

In another embodiment, the method further includes mixing a powderedpolymer with associated native soil to form a road base, applying to theroad base a tack coat of resin-modified emulsion, adding rock chips tothe tack coat, wherein the chips are not washed prior to use, androlling the tack coat.

Other benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of thefollowing detailed specification.

III. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Resilient Modulus was calculated based on the CBR values accordingto the Relationship: Mr (psi)=1500 CBR. Formulation A is (a) 67% byweight percent based upon the total weight of the emulsion a mixturecomprising pitch, rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water; (b) 33%acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer and water; and (c) chip sealed withacrylic and vinyl acetate polymer and water. Formulation B is (a) 67% byweight percent based upon the total weight of the emulsion a mixturecomprising pitch, rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water; (b) 33%acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer and water; and (c) chip sealed withthickened acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer and water.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the characteristics of thecomposition for road base materials can include a composition that is anaqueous emulsion comprising about 5.0% to about 60.0% by weight(including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60) of acrylic and vinyl acetatepolymer, and 40.0% to about 95.0% by weight (including, but not limitedto, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56,57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74,75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92,93, 94, and 95) of water. In this embodiment, this aqueous emulsion iscombined with a resin-modified emulsion (described in U.S. Pat. No.4,822,425, which is incorporated herein by reference) which comprisesfrom (a) about 1 to about 90 weight percent based upon the total weightof said emulsion of a mixture comprising pitch from about 5 to about 95weight percent (including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83,84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95) based on the totalweight of the mixture and rosin from 1 to 70 weight percent (including,but not limited to, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69,and 70) based on the total weight of the mixture; (b) from about 0.1 to5.0 weight percent (including, but not limited to, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4,0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8,1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6,4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 5.0) based upon the total weight of said emulsion ofan emulsifying agent and (c) from about 9.9 to 98 weight percent(including, but not limited to, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55,56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73,74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98) based upon the total weight of theemulsion of water.

When the term “water insoluble” is used herein, it is meant that themixture of pitch and rosin when dispersed onto the aggregate materialafter the water has evaporated will not be washed away by rainwater andthe like thereby weakening the final product. As mentioned, the oil basedust control products do not adhere or bind themselves to the aggregatebut are water soluble and do wash away with the rain. When the term“non-flammable” is used herein it is meant that the mixture or theemulsion will not catch fire instantly when exposed to a spark or flameand will not burn rapidly or continuously. When the term “non-corrosive”is used herein it is meant that the mixture of emulsion has a neutralpH. Consequently, it will not rust or corrode metals. Many of the dustcontrol agents of the prior art are chloride based, such as, magnesiumchloride and calcium chloride which are corrosive. When the term“emulsion” or “pine tar emulsion” is used herein it is meant that themixture of pitch and rosin has been emulsified in water using anemulsifying agent. The water being the continuous phase and the mixtureof pitch and rosin being the dispersed phase. Standard emulsifyingtechnology is used to produce the emulsion of the instant invention. Anystandard emulsifying unit can be used that will produce a maximumparticle size in the pitch and rosin phase of from about 5 to 10 microns(including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). When the term“stabilizing” is used herein in the context of stabilizing aggregate, itis meant that when aggregate is applied to roadways and the like, theaggregate is held into place forming a solid paving material such thateven through the paving material is subjected to heavy traffic such asautomobiles and heavy trucks, freezing and thawing, wind and rain,erosion, etc., the material will remain unchanged. When the term“aggregate” is used herein, it is meant to refer to materials, such as,granular rock particles, shale or similar materials with similarhardness and inertness either natural or manufactured, and either insitu or imported. When the term “pitch” is used herein, it is meant torefer to pine tar pitch which is the residue obtained from a“distillation column” in the paper producing process. When the word“rosin” is used herein, it is meant to mean the rosin as defined in theCondensed Chemical Dictionary, 9th Edition, published by Van NostrandReinhold Co., 1977, page 756.

When the term “pliable” is used herein it is meant that the stabilizedaggregate will not break up under the maximum allowable highway axleweights of vehicles traveling on these roadways paved with thestabilized aggregate. When the term “water impermeable” is used hereinit is meant that the stabilized aggregate is waterproof and willactually shed water. When the term “weight supporting” is used herein itis meant that the stabilized aggregate is bound together sufficiently towithstand stress and pressures associated with heavy vehicles travelingon roadways. When the term “repairable” is used herein, it is meant thatthe stabilized aggregate is easily repaired, as compared to asphaltwhere certain asphalt patching material tends to be easily removed from“pot holes.” When the term “stable” is used herein to describe theinstant emulsion, it is meant to mean that the continuous water phase ofthe emulsion will not separate from the pitch/rosin phase of theemulsion for at least 1 month. When the terms “stable” or “stabilized”are used herein to describe the instant stabilized aggregate material,it is meant that the pitch/rosin coating on the aggregate will notre-emulsify or “plate out” after compaction of the aggregate and afterthe water has evaporated. This stabilized aggregate material will remainstable even when exposed to large amounts of water such as heavy rains.If this material was not stable, the pitch/rosin would re-emulsifyresulting in the material becoming soft and non-weight supporting. Whenthe term “solid material” is used herein, it is meant to describe thestabilized aggregate after it has formed a “block” of material or hasformed a roadway surface, etc. When the term “freeze resistant” is usedherein, it is meant that the stabilized aggregate may be subjected tofreezing and thawing temperatures without affecting the strength orweight supporting capability of the stabilized aggregate. When the term“dilutable” is used herein, it is meant that the concentrated emulsionis capable and may be diluted with water, e.g., 1 to 30 parts water to 1part emulsions, to form a product which is easily mixed with aggregateto provide a “pothole” or crack patching material or it may be sprayedto seal asphalt, concrete or other paved surfaces, etc. When the term“emulsifying agent” is used herein, it is meant to mean that it willfacilitate the formation of an emulsion. An emulsion as defined hereinor as used herein, is defined in the Condensed Chemical Dictionary 9thEdition, page 340. Any suitable emulsifying agent may be used.Emulsifiers may be anionic, cationic or nonionic. A large number of suchemulsifying agents are well known in the emulsion art. Anionicemulsifiers include soaps, such as, the alkali metal soaps of fattyacids, rosin acids, tolyl acids, alkaryl sulfonic acids, and the like.Cationic emulsifying agents include aliphatic amines, aromatic amineswith fatty acid chains, fatty amides quaternary ammonium salts,polyethylene diamines and their quaternary ammonium derivatives, alkylimidazolines and the like. Nonionic emulsifying agents includepolyoxyethylene derivative of alcohols, acids, ethers, phenols, amides,or amines.

When the term “binder/hardener” is used herein, it is meant a substancethat sets and hardens and can bind materials together and acceleratesthe curing process. When the term “hydraulic curing agent” is usedherein, it is meant a substance that cures due to hydration or achemical reaction independent of water content. When the term“non-hydraulic curing agent” is used herein, it is meant a substancethat must be kept dry during the curing process.

In several embodiments of the present invention, methods for improvingsoil or road base materials are provided. As used in this patentapplication, the term “soil” is broadly used to describe the top layerof the earth's surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixedwith organic matter (also known as, by non-limiting reference, earth ordirt); whether originally located at the road construction site (“nativesoil” or “in situ soil”) or transported to the road construction site.As used in this patent application, the phrase “road base materials” isbroadly used to describe any substance from which a road surface, base,or sub-base could be constructed; including, but certainly not limitedto by this non-limiting reference, rock, broken rock, gravel (whetherpebble, granule, or other size or mixture), sand, cobble, slag, or otherconstruction aggregate or fill material. The manner of compositionapplication can include any method chosen with sound engineeringjudgment; but in most instances, application of the chemical agent tothe soil is accomplished by the use of conventional spray equipment(spray trucks). The agent is gravity fed or pumped through hoses, spraynozzles, or fixed sprayers and evenly applied to the soil or material tobe treated.

In one embodiment, a road base is built of the aqueous emulsion andresin-modified emulsion mixed with the native soil. In one embodimentthe road base is about four inches deep. In another embodiment, a binder(i.e. Portland cement) can be added to the road base. In anotherembodiment, synthetic fibers can be added to the base as well. In oneembodiment, a tack coat of about 25% by weight to about 75% by weight(including, but not limited to, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52,53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70,71, 72, 73, 74, and 75) of the resin-modified emulsion and about 25% byweight to about 75% by weight (including, but not limited to, 25, 26,27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62,63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75) of the aqueousemulsion can be added to the road base. After the tack coat is applied,chips of limestone are added to the tack coat, which is then rolled witha pneumatic roller, and then rolled with a steel drum. In thisembodiment, no asphalt is used to build the road, and the product issubstantially free of polycyclic organic matter, including polynucleararomatic hydrocarbons. It is to be understood that the tack coat couldalso be just the aqueous emulsion. It is also to be understood that thetack coat could be a combination of the aqueous emulsion and a viscosityenhancer.

In another embodiment, composition includes about 25% polymer emulsion(either thickened or unthickened) by volume and about 75% pitch/rosinemulsion by volume as a base. The base is diluted to achieve optimummoisture. The chip contains a tack coat which is about 25% thickenedpolymer emulsion by volume and about 75% pitch/rosin emulsion by volume,wherein no water is added to the tack coat, and a seal coat which is thecomposition as the tack coat, except that it is diluted 2:1 with water.The invention can be used as a base alone, a surface alone, both baseand surface, chip over existing asphalt roads, as well as chip overexisting stable native soil roads. In several embodiments, the aggregatecan be chosen from the group comprising in situ soils, reclaimedasphalt, reclaimed concrete, limestone, river rock, granite, decomposedgranite, and any combination of the above aggregates. The aggregate canbe either washed or unwashed.

In one embodiment Marshall Stability testing was performed in accordanceto ASTM D 6927 on several formulations, with the range of results being4,450 lbs to 12,490 lbs. The CBR testing was conducted in accordancewith ASTM D1883-99. The aggregate material was sieved in accordance toASTM D 422. The aggregate was classified through USCS (Unified SoilClassification System) as SP-poorly-graded sand; ≧50% of coarse fractionpasses No. 4 sieve; through AASHTO (American Association of StateHighway and Transportation Officials) as A-1-b material=General ratingas a subgrade is excellent to good. The optimum moisture was determinedto be 7.2% calculated in accordance to ASTM D 1557.

The road base can be made of native soil combined with the aqueousemulsion, the native soil combined with the resin-modified emulsion, orthe native soil combined with the aqueous emulsion and theresin-modified emulsion. In one embodiment of this invention, the chipsdo not need to be washed prior to use.

In another embodiment, the tack coat can be applied directly to anasphalt road as well. In this embodiment, the tack coat, which can bethe aqueous emulsion, the resin-modified emulsion, the aqueousemulsion/resin-modified emulsion, or any of the previous combined with aviscosity enhancer. To this tack coat can be added the chips asdescribed above.

In one embodiment, the treated soil or road base materials are gradedand compacted, using any means chosen with sound engineering judgment,and a top coat of the composition is applied. Motor-graders, asphaltgrinders, mixers, pug mills, compactors, rollers, and other conventionalconstruction equipment may be utilized to blend, set grade, and compactstabilized base, if necessary, as described in herein. A top coat isdefined broadly as any application of the soil or road base materialschemical improvement composition that is applied after compaction.

In another embodiment, the composition includes a curing agent. Thecuring agent allows the road or road base to be open to traffic or usein a matter of hours rather than days. The curing agent increases theearly strength of the surface without compromising the late or long termstrength. The curing agent allows for rapid attainment of residualmoisture levels and allows installation in conditions of less than idealmoisture. The curing agent is exothermic, allowing for use in less thenideal temperatures normally needed for emulsion drying and curing. Thecuring agent used in the testing was a non-Portland hydraulic binder,and in this particular example was Ciment Fondu®, available from KerneosSA, Seine, France. Ciment Fondu® has a chemical composition of 37.5% to41.0% by weight Al₂O₃, 35.5% to 39.0% by weight CaO, 3.5% to 5.5% SiO₂,13.0% to 17.5% Fe₂O₃, less than 1.5% MgO, and less than 4.0% TiO₂. Inanother embodiment, the curing agent comprises greater than 37.0% Al₂O₃,less than 41.0% CaO, less than 6.0% Sift, less than 18.5% Fe₂O₃, lessthan 1.5% MgO, and less than 4.0% TiO₂. In another embodiment, thecuring agent can be aluminum silicate. When the curing agent is added tothe soil, the curing agent is approximately 0.1% to approximately 20.0%by weight of the soil (including, but not limited to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4,0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8,1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6,4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0,6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4,7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8,8.9, 9.0, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 10.0, 10.1,10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3,11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5,12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 13.0, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7,13.8, 13.9, 14.0, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9,15.0, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 16.0, 16.1,16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9, 17.0, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3,17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9, 18.0, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5,18.6, 18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 19.0, 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7,19.8, 19.9, and 20.0.) When the curing agent is added to the emulsion,the curing agent is approximately 0.1% to approximately 30.0% by weight(including, but not limited to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2,2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6,3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0,5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4,6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8,7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.0, 9.1,9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4,10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6,11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8,12.9, 13.0, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 14.0,14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 15.0, 15.1, 15.2,15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4,16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9, 17.0, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6,17.7, 17.8, 17.9, 18.0, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, 18.7, 18.8,18.9, 19.0, 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8, 19.9, 20.0,20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 21.0, 21.1, 21.2,21.3, 21.4, 21.5, 21.6, 21.7, 21.8, 21.9, 22.0, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4,22.5, 22.6, 22.7, 22.8, 22.9, 23.0, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.5, 23.6,23.7, 23.8, 23.9, 24.0, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7, 24.8,24.9, 25.0, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0,26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 26.9, 27.0, 27.1, 27.2,27.3, 27.4, 27.5, 27.6, 27.7, 27.8, 27.9, 28.0, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4,28.5, 28.6, 28.7, 28.8, 28.9, 29.0, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6,29.7, 29.8, 29.9, and 30.0).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the characteristics of thecomposition for road base materials can include a composition that is anaqueous emulsion comprising about 5.0% to about 60.0% by weight(including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60) of acrylic and vinyl acetatepolymer, about 0.1% to about 30.0% by weight (including, but not limitedto 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8,2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2,4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6,5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0,7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4,8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7,9.8, 9.9, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9,11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1,12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 13.0, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3,13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 14.0, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5,14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 15.0, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7,15.8, 15.9, 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9,17.0, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9, 18.0, 18.1,18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, 18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 19.0, 19.1, 19.2, 19.3,19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8, 19.9, 20.0, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5,20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 21.0, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 21.5, 21.6, 21.7,21.8, 21.9, 22.0, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6, 22.7, 22.8, 22.9,23.0, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.5, 23.6, 23.7, 23.8, 23.9, 24.0, 24.1,24.2, 24.3, 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7, 24.8, 24.9, 25.0, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3,25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5,26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 26.9, 27.0, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5, 27.6, 27.7,27.8, 27.9, 28.0, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4, 28.5, 28.6, 28.7, 28.8, 28.9,29.0, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.8, 29.9, and 30.0) ofcuring agent, and 10.0% to about 94.9% by weight (including, but notlimited to, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42,43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60,61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78,79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and94.9) of water. In this embodiment, this aqueous emulsion is combinedwith a resin-modified emulsion (described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,425,which is incorporated herein by reference) which comprises from (a)about 1 to about 90 weight percent based upon the total weight of saidemulsion of a mixture comprising pitch from about 5 to about 95 weightpercent (including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95) based on the total weight ofthe mixture and rosin from 1 to 70 weight percent (including, but notlimited to, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53,54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70)based on the total weight of the mixture; (b) from about 0.1 to 5.0weight percent (including, but not limited to, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5,0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9,2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3,3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7,4.8, 4.9, and 5.0) based upon the total weight of said emulsion of anemulsifying agent and (c) from about 9.9 to 98 weight percent(including, but not limited to, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55,56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73,74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98) based upon the total weight of theemulsion of water.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the characteristics of thecomposition for road base materials can include a composition that is anaqueous emulsion comprising about 5.0% to about 60.0% by weight(including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60) of acrylic and vinyl acetatepolymer and 40.0% to about 95% by weight (including, but not limited to,40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57,58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75,76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93,94, and 95) of water. In this embodiment, this aqueous emulsion iscombined with a resin-modified emulsion (described in U.S. Pat. No.4,822,425, which is incorporated herein by reference) which comprisesfrom (a) about 1 to about 90 weight percent based upon the total weightof said emulsion of a mixture comprising pitch from about 5 to about 95weight percent (including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83,84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95) based on the totalweight of the mixture and rosin from 1 to 70 weight percent (including,but not limited to, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69,and 70) based on the total weight of the mixture; (b) from about 0.1 to5.0 weight percent (including, but not limited to, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4,0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8,1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6,4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 5.0) based upon the total weight of said emulsion ofan emulsifying agent (c) from about 9.8 to 98 weight percent (including,but not limited to, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94,95, 96, 97, and 98) based upon the total weight of the emulsion ofwater, and (d) from about 0.1 to 30.0 weight percent (including, but notlimited to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2,1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6,2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0,4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4,5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8,6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2,8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5,9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7,10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9,12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 13.0, 13.1,13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 14.0, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3,14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 15.0, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5,15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7,16.8, 16.9, 17.0, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9,18.0, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, 18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 19.0, 19.1,19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8, 19.9, 20.0, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3,20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 21.0, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 21.5,21.6, 21.7, 21.8, 21.9, 22.0, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6, 22.7,22.8, 22.9, 23.0, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.5, 23.6, 23.7, 23.8, 23.9,24.0, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7, 24.8, 24.9, 25.0, 25.1,25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3,26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 26.9, 27.0, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5,27.6, 27.7, 27.8, 27.9, 28.0, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4, 28.5, 28.6, 28.7,28.8, 28.9, 29.0, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.8, 29.9,and 30.0) based upon the total weight of the emulsion of a curing agent.

Samitron stiffness measurements of one embodiment represent thestabilized soil as the chip seal is approximately ½ inch thick and theSamitron depth measurement is about 9 inches. This performance iscomparable to that of the best quality aggregate bases used forinterstate highway construction. This shows that the present inventionwill perform at least as well as a moderate volume road and excellent asa parking lot.

In a listing of potential embodiments, the following chemicalcombinations are potential embodiments (all percentages are based onweight of the emulsion, the emulsions are between about 20% to about 65%by weight of active ingredient): polymer emulsion at about 100% byweight; pitch/rosin emulsion at about 100% by weight; thickened polymeremulsion at about 100% by weight; polymer emulsion (about 5% to about95%) with pitch/rosin emulsion (about 5% to about 95%); and thickenedpolymer emulsion (about 5% to about 95%) with pitch/rosin emulsion(about 5% to about 95%). In several embodiments rheology modifiers(thickeners) may be used. The rheology modifier can be chosen from thegroup comprising naturally occurring gums (i.e. xanthan gum, guar gum),polyacrylamide polymers, methylcellulose, silicas, polyurethanes, aNewtonian rheology modifier, carbonates, and any rheology modifier thatdevelops a non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic flow (“where a fluid'sviscosity—the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow—decreases with anincreasing rate of shear stress”). In several embodiments, drying aidsare used. The drying aid can be chosen from the group comprisingsurfactants (i.e. alpha olefin sulfonates, sodium lauryl sulfonates,sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate), linseed oil, walnut oil, corn oil, tongoil, poppy oil, perilla oil, cotton oil, and alcohols (i.e. methanol,isopropyl alcohol).

In another embodiment, powdered polymer is used for base stabilization.The powdered polymer can be acrylic and/or polyvinyl acetate. In thisembodiment, the powdered polymer is mixed with the native soil prior toaddition of the resin-modified emulsion. In this embodiment about 5.0%to about 60.0% by weight (including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60) ofacrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer is mixed with the nativesoil.

In another embodiment, about 5.0% to about 60.0% by weight (including,but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60) of acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymeris combined with a resin-modified emulsion (described in U.S. Pat. No.4,822,425, which is incorporated herein by reference) which comprisesfrom (a) about 1 to about 90 weight percent based upon the total weightof said emulsion of a mixture comprising pitch from about 5 to about 95weight percent (including, but not limited to, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83,84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95) based on the totalweight of the mixture and rosin from 1 to 70 weight percent (including,but not limited to, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69,and 70) based on the total weight of the mixture; (b) from about 0.1 to5.0 weight percent (including, but not limited to, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4,0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8,1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6,4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 5.0) based upon the total weight of said emulsion ofan emulsifying agent (c) from about 9.8 to 98 weight percent (including,but not limited to, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94,95, 96, 97, and 98) based upon the total weight of the emulsion ofwater, and (d) from about 0.1 to 30.0 weight percent (including, but notlimited to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2,1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6,2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0,4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4,5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8,6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2,8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5,9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7,10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9,12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 13.0, 13.1,13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 14.0, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3,14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 15.0, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5,15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7,16.8, 16.9, 17.0, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9,18.0, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, 18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 19.0, 19.1,19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8, 19.9, 20.0, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3,20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 21.0, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 21.5,21.6, 21.7, 21.8, 21.9, 22.0, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6, 22.7,22.8, 22.9, 23.0, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.5, 23.6, 23.7, 23.8, 23.9,24.0, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7, 24.8, 24.9, 25.0, 25.1,25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3,26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 26.9, 27.0, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5,27.6, 27.7, 27.8, 27.9, 28.0, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4, 28.5, 28.6, 28.7,28.8, 28.9, 29.0, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.8, 29.9,and 30.0) based upon the total weight of the emulsion of a curing agent.The resultant mixture is combined with native soil.

The embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses mayincorporate changes and modifications without departing from the generalscope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope ofthe appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Although the descriptionabove contains much specificity, this should not be construed aslimiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providingillustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of thisinvention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possiblewithin its scope. Furthermore, notwithstanding that the numerical rangesand parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention areapproximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examplesare reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however,inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from thestandard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:
 1. A compositionfor road sealing, the composition comprising: an acrylic and vinylacetate powdered polymer; water; and, a resin-modified emulsion, whereinthe resin-modified emulsion comprises: a mixture of pitch and rosin; anemulsifying agent; and, water, wherein the composition is substantiallyfree of asphalt, wherein the composition is water insoluble whendispersed on aggregate material.
 2. The composition of claim 1, whereinthe composition further comprises: synthetic fibers.
 3. The compositionof claim 1, wherein the acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer arebetween about 5.0% and about 60.0% by weight, the water is between about40.0% and about 94.0% by weight, and the resin emulsion between about1.0% and about 55.0% by weight, wherein within the resin emulsion thepitch is between about 1.0% and about 95% by weight, the rosin isbetween about 1% to about 70%, the emulsifying agent is between about0.1% to about 5.0% by weight, and the water is between about 10% toabout 98% by weight.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises: a tack coat.
 5. The composition of claim4, wherein the tack coat comprises: resin-modified emulsion of pitch,rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water; and, an acrylic and vinylacetate powdered polymer.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition is substantially free of polycyclic organic matter.
 7. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises acuring agent, wherein the curing agent is about 0.1% to about 30.0% byweight.
 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the curing agent ischosen from the group comprising hydraulic curing agents andnon-hydraulic curing agents.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises: soil; and, a binder, wherein ahydrophobic soil matrix is created, which limits water ingress.
 10. Amethod for road sealing, the method comprising the steps of: mixing anacrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer with associated native soilto form a road base; applying to the road base a tack coat ofresin-modified emulsion; adding rock chips to the tack coat; and,rolling the tack coat, wherein the composition is substantially free ofasphalt, wherein the resin-modified emulsion is pitch, rosin,emulsifying agent, and water, wherein the method does not include anycementitious chemical reaction.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereinmethod comprises the steps of: adding a binder to the road base; and,adding synthetic fibers to the road base.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein no polycyclic organic matter is used.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein prior to the step of mixing an acrylic and vinyl acetatepowdered polymer with associated native soil to form a road base, themethod comprises the step of: mixing a curing agent with associatednative soil.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the curing agent isabout 0.1% to about 20.0% by weight of the soil.
 15. The method of claim10, wherein method comprises the steps of: adding a binder to the roadbase; and, adding synthetic fibers to the road base, wherein ahydrophobic soil matrix is created, which limits water ingress.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the curing agent is chosen from the groupcomprising non-hydraulic curing agents and hydraulic curing agents. 17.A composition for road sealing, the composition comprising: about 5% toabout 95% acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer by weight; and, atack coat comprising at least one of an aqueous emulsion and aresin-modified emulsion, wherein the composition is substantially freeof asphalt, wherein the composition is water insoluble when dispersed onaggregate material.
 18. The composition of claim 17, wherein thecomposition further comprises a curing agent.
 19. The composition ofclaim 17, wherein the composition further comprises a rheology modifier.20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the rheology modifier developsa non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic flow.